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USC Football: Who will be the Trojans’ starting QB in 2018?

By Shane Lunnen

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Matt Fink #19 of the USC Trojans runs the ball against Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Matt Fink #19 of the USC Trojans runs the ball against Julian Okwara #42 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the third quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

USC has a history of great quarterbacks. Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer and Rodney Peete to name a few. In the Trojans long history, a true freshman has started only 18 games and 12 of those starts were made by Matt Barkley during the 2009 season. The arrival of JT Daniels will add to those starts.

Daniels is a five star recruit out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Originally a part of the 2019 recruiting class, last December he announced he had graduated early and would re-class as part of the Trojans 2018 class. He made the decision before Sam Darnold declared early for the NFL and the decision looks to be a good one. Daniels was the 16th ranked overall player in the 2018 class and the second ranked quarterback in the country. As a junior, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Daniels has not thrown a single ball in a collegiate practice, but he appears to be the favorite to win the starting job as fall camp approaches. Of course there is risk of naming him the starter, but with Sears and Fink struggling during the spring, the true freshman has the ability to overtake both of them. His arm strength and accuracy at the high school level is a huge asset and now he just needs to show the same ability at the next level.

Next: 5 USC freshmen who could break out in 2018

All three quarterbacks will have their opportunity to prove they belong under center when the Trojans open the season against UNLV on September 1st. The learning curve is steep and the starter will not have a lot of tune up time. After hosting the Rebels, USC travels to Stanford for an early season test.

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